Combined incandescent and circular fluorescent lighting unit



2,538,681 CIRCULAR INVENTOR IJ'OZ G. Gangbin l. G. GANGBIN COMBINED INCANDESCENT AND FLUORESCENT LIGHTING UNIT Filed Jan. 24, 1949 Jan. 16, 1951 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 16, 1951 COMBINED INCANDESCENT AND CIRCULAR FLUORESCENT LIGHTING UNIT Irol G. Gangbin, Fresno, Cal-if., assignor to Spectrolitc, Fresno, Calif.

Application January 24, 1949,, Serial No. 72,490

This invention. is directed generally to an improved electric lighting unit.

One object of the invention is to provide a lighting unit which comprises a novel combination of light sources whereby to produce a novel ornamental or artistic eiiect, while at the same time creating relatively high illumination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination lighting unit which includes a source of indirect light, and a source of direct light; the indirect light preferably being colored and the direct light preferably being white, with mixing and blending of the same whereby the resultant illumination is soft but of relatively high intensity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination lighting unit, as in the Preceding paragraph, wherein such blending of the indirect and direct light is accomplished by means of a novel fixture wherein the respective light sources are mounted in predetermined relative positions.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a combination lighting unit, as above, in which the indirect light is produced by fluorescent tubes in upwardly opening, annular channels having annular, downwardly. facing concave reflectors extending both above and inwardly thereof; the direct light source being in the center of said assembly of annular channels and reflectors whereby the direct light is projected downwardly surrounded by reflected light which blends therewith below the fixture.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a lighting unit designed for ease and economy of manufacture. 1

- A further object of the invention is to provide a practical lighting unit, and one which will be exceedingly efiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the novel combination lighting unit.

Fig. 2 is a diametral section of such lighting unit.

Fig. 3 is a diametral section illustrating a modification.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, and particularly at present to the embodiments of Figs.

1 and 2, the combination lighting unit is in the 3 Claims. (Cl. 24. 0-51.12)

form of a fixture, indicated generally .at I. In this embodiment the fixture is annular and is adapted to be suspended from a ceiling in a horizontal position.

The fixture l comprises an outer, and an inner, annular, upwardly opening channel, indicated at 2 and 3, respectively; the outer channel 2 being of considerably greater diameter than the inner channel 3 and surrounding the latter in spaced concentric relation. 2

The outer and inner channels 2 and 3 are substantially semi-circular in cross section, and in each thereof there are a pair of annular fluorescent tubes 4, which tubes are mounted in the channels by any suitable'type of hanger. The fluorescent tubes 4 in the respective channels 2 and 3 are preferably of a type which emit "colored light, with different colors in the respective channels. For example, the fluorescent tubes in one channel may be green and the tubes in the other channel may be gold.

An annular, downwardly opening concave reflflector 5, which may be termed'the outer reflector, extends from the outer edge of the channel 2 upwardly and inwardly therefrom, spanning said channel 2 and extending to a termination in merging relation with the upper; outer edge of the inner channel 3. This forms an annular throat 6 downwardly through which reflected light may pass from the reflector 5 Another annular, downwardly opening concave reflector l, which may be termed the inner reflector, extends from the outer upper edge of the inner channel 3 upwardly and inwardly in spanning relation to said channel; such inner reflector I terminating, at its inner edge, inv bordering relation to a central circular opening 8 in the fixture. This arrangement provides another an-..

nular throat 9 which is disposed between the channel 3 and central opening 8, and through which throat 8 light is reflected downwardly from the reflector 1.

An electric globe ll] of incandescent, direct projection, semi-spot type, is disposed with a relatively close fit in the opening 8; such electric globe I0 facing downwardly, and being carried in a socket H supported by a bracket [2.

The electric circuit for the fluorescent tubes 4 and electric globe Ill is omitted for clarity; it being understood, however, that such tubes and socket are wired in a circuit for simultaneous or selective illumination.

When the lighting unit is in operation with the fluorescent tubes 4 and incandescent globe 10 in operation, the latter directly projects a white light in a downward direction. At the same time reflected colored light from the fluorescent tubes 4 is cast downwardly through the concentric annular throats 6 and 9. As there is relatively wide diffusion of the colored light reflected downwardly through the throats 6 and 9, such reflected lights tend to mix or blend with the projected white light, softening the latter, but without materially reducing its effective intensity.

Also, when the fixture is in operation it presents a very ornamental or artistic appearance, for the reason that colored rings of reflected light appear in the throats 6 and 9, with said rings disposed in surrounding concentric relation to the white light center created by the globe [0.

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a modification of the lighting unit, which modification comprises:

In this modification there is only a single annular, upwardly opening channel [3 having a pair of annular, fluorescent tubes 14 mounted therein. Similarly, there is a single annular, downwardly opening concave reflector l5 which extends, in spanning relation, from the outer upper edge of the channel l3 over and above the latter. and thence extends on a relatively wide sweep to the central opening l6 of the fixture, and in which central opening there is a center globe I! which corresponds to, and is mounted in the same manner as, the globe H] of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, illumination which is produced is much the same as before, except that here there is only a single annular throat I8 for the downward passage of the reflected light from the fluorescent tubes [4. The throat I8 is of much greater width than either the annular throat B or 9 of the prior embodiment, so that a relatively wide ring of colored light appears about the direct white light projected downwardly by the globe IT. The colored light which is reflected downwardly through the throat [8 mixes or blends with the white light projected from the center globe I! so as to soften such white light without materially lessening its intensity.

The invention provides a combination lighting unit, in either embodiment, which is very efiective for the purpose of providing a soft but relatively high intensity illumination, and additionally the fixturein each instance-presents a pleasing ornamental or artistic appearance when viewed directly.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a de- 'vice as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A combination lighting unit comprising a supporting bracket, a center semi-spot type incandescent lamp carried by the bracket and effective to cast light downwardly, an annular downwardly opening concave reflector having an inner edge closely surrounding the lower peripheral edge of the incandescent lamp and such reflector then curving upwardly and outwardly away from said lamp, an upwardly opening annular channel disposed about the lamp in radially spaced relation with respect thereto, the said reflector overhanging said channel, the outer edge of the reflector merging with the outer edge of the channel, and fluorescent light tubes disposed in the channel.

2. A unit as in claim 1 in which the upper edges of the channel lie in substantially the same horizontal plane as the lower end of the center lamp.

3. A unit as in claim 1 including a second annular downwardly opening concave reflector having an inner edge merging with the upper outer edge of the first channel and curving upwardly and outwardly therefrom, a second upwardly opening channel disposed about the first channel in radially spaced relation with respect thereto, the second reflector overhanging said second channel and the outer edge of the second reflector merging with the outer edge of the second channel.

IROL G. GANGBIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 119,794 Robinson et al Apr. 2, 1940 1,805,886 Rizer May 19, 1931 2,053,325 Dorey et al Sept. 8, 1936 2,284,194 Gangbin May 26, 1942 2,309,676 Schmidling Feb. 2, 1943 2,415,635 Hopkins Feb. 11, 1947 2,454,243 Wiedenhoeft Nov. 16, 1948 

